Bradford sport stars James Hanson and Junior Witter helped cancer charity fundraiser Peter Downes light up the sky with a spectacular Christmas display at his home in Idle tonight.

The City striker and the boxing champ were among a huge crowd of children and well-wishers at the annual switch on which has raised more than £8,000 for Marie Curie care in the past eight years.

Witter, the former WBC welterweight champion, said: “I lost my dad Walter to cancer and anything we can do to help has got to be done. Cancer can affect all of us at some time.”

“I’m confident that this year we will break the £10,000 barrier for Marie Curie,” said window cleaner Mr Downes, who decorates the outside of his house with 50,000 bulbs while wife Clare does the inside.

“I’m the one who’s used to ladders!” joked Mr Downes.